Please help stop the spread of VHS!

[taxid]

As most of you know the VHS pathogen is spreading in the Great Lakes states and if it follows a pattern of other pathogens and invasive species, it will make it's way to other parts of the country as well. (The zebra mussel has made it's way all the way to New Orleans).  It's potentially a disease that could devastate fish populations, and we need to do all we can to at least slow it's spread. As of late it's been found in Wisconsin. (See my previous post in the Wisconsin category)

Please be aware that you or fellow anglers could spread this pathogen by transferring live well water or even fish. In most states the transfer of fish from one body of water to another is illegal, but in at least one state (my state of Indiana) it is still legal to stock private ponds with untested fish out of public waters. I once had an angler brag to me about planting smallmouth out of Lake Erie into his pond. Lake Erie has tested positive for VHS and has had fish kills due to this pathogen. As we all know most ponds have an overflow in case of excess water due to rain or snow melt, and that water has to go somewhere. Additionally I had an angler tell me he watched someone chum with saltwater herring while fishing for steelhead in a local river. VHS is a problem on the west coast in the Pacific. Freezing doesn't necessarily kill viruses. This should be a big no no also.

Here is a link that discusses the disease and where it most likely came from. Now that it's here I believe the most likely mode of movement will be anglers with boats and other boaters. 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/fs_vhs_q_and_a.pdf

It's very possible this pathogen may not be as bad as expected, and the fish that don't succumb to it may develop an immunity, but we still need to do what we can to protect our resources. There is still a lot unknown about this pathogen.

To do your part to slow or stop the spread of invasive species and pathogens please pass this on to other anglers and:

INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment and remove all aquatic plants.

·   DRAIN all water from the boat, motor, bilge, live well and bait wells.

·   DISPOSE of leftover bait in a trash bin, not into the water.

·   RINSE your boat and fishing equipment with hot (at least 104 degrees F or higher) water, OR thoroughly dry your boat and equipment (leave them in the sun for at least five days) before entering a new water body.

[NoGood]

The only way to really prevent this from happening is for the States and the Federal Government to implement tougher laws on ocean freighters dumping ballast water into the great lakes. Most of all the problems related to the great lakes can be tracked back to ballast water dumping. The damage is done,yes we as sportsman can only slow the progess.We need the cure to eliminate it.

[taxid]

The only way to really prevent this from happening is for the States and the Federal Government to implement tougher laws on ocean freighters dumping ballast water into the great lakes. Most of all the problems related to the great lakes can be tracked back to ballast water dumping. The damage is done,yes we as sportsman can only slow the progess.We need the cure to eliminate it.

Yes ballast water probably got it here in the first place but now that it's here we need to do what we can to slow or stop it's spread further. It's here to stay and there will be no cure.

[Ice Dawg]

The amazing thing is that I live in South Dakota and it will end up here becuse of people that come here to fish and don't care what they bring with them. Zebra Mussels and Milfoil have been brought in here and it has made a bunch of people very angry.

[TrekJeff]

Yep, it's here, it will soon be there.  This was first found in England's trout ponds.  They have found ways to control/stabilize it.  Hopefully our FWS will work on using their data to assist in what we have to deal with.  The virus has a very tolerate temperature range, just goes dormant in the winter.  It's also just one strain of a number of viruses.

http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/fhb/leaflets/83.asp
http://www.countryside.wales.gov.uk/fe/textonly.asp?n1=5&n2=201&n3=219

Those that are stubborn to old habit are the biggest problem.  Many people claim that the money that they make today in selling bait fish is worth more than the furture of our fisheries.  That's the sadest part.  We all need to police our waters and if you know for a fact someone's violating the laws set to limit the spread of this virus, turn them in.   

[taxid]

Yep, it's here, it will soon be there.  This was first found in England's trout ponds.   They have found ways to control/stabilize it.  Hopefully our FWS will work on using their data to assist in what we have to deal with.  The virus has a very tolerate temperature range, just goes dormant in the winter.  It's also just one strain of a number of viruses.

http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/fhb/leaflets/83.asp
http://www.countryside.wales.gov.uk/fe/textonly.asp?n1=5&n2=201&n3=219

Those that are stubborn to old habit are the biggest problem.  Many people claim that the money that they make today in selling bait fish is worth more than the furture of our fisheries.  That's the sadest part.  We all need to police our waters and if you know for a fact someone's violating the laws set to limit the spread of this virus, turn them in.   

With all due respect someone gave you some information that is slightly inaccuarate or out of date.  First of all yes VHS was first found in Europe. However, what we are dealing with here is a different isolate known as VHS type IV of the North American variety. Not the same one first found in Europe. There are four different isolates of VHS.

See:

http://www.greatlakesfishhealth.com/Viral%20Hemorrhagic%20Septicemia%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%202-26-2007.pdf

Secondly yes baitfish are a potential mode of transfer of VHS, however, they are not implicated yet as a definite mode of transfer. Of the list of potential species susceptable to VHS the most common bait fish the fathhead minnow (Pimephales promelus) is not even listed.

And don't take it personally that I corrected your information. I just have an intimate relationship with this problem as my farm just got tested (tested negative like all fish farms have so far) and in aquaculture we have been hammered with this imformation.

[TrekJeff]

You are correct and I'm also very informed in the matter as well, Environmental Sciences/Natural Resource MGT, got a piece of paper for Central Michigan University I paid a few bucks for to show other people I got a clue of what biodiversity and species interaction ect... is all about... , just didn't think stating the fact that there were four strains...it doesn't matter if there's 400, we got a problem and need to isolate and contain it or minimize it's impact.  It's great that your business passed, my concern is those that choose the daily dollar over the longevity of the fisheries.  As far as inaccurate, nope, just a bit old...but first found is first found.  The ponds in question were raising browns and grayling.  So dispite the age, the accuracy is right on.

[taxid]

You are correct and I'm also very informed in the matter as well, Environmental Sciences/Natural Resource MGT, got a piece of paper for Central Michigan University I paid a few bucks for to show other people I got a clue of what biodiversity and species interaction ect... is all about... , just didn't think stating the fact that there were four strains...it doesn't matter if there's 400, we got a problem and need to isolate and contain it or minimize it's impact.  It's great that your business passed, my concern is those that choose the daily dollar over the longevity of the fisheries.  As far as inaccurate, nope, just a bit old...but first found is first found.  The ponds in question were raising browns and grayling.  So dispite the age, the accuracy is right on.

I have one of those piece of papers I paid for too and also from Michigan!   

Let's just agree that the general public needs to be educated more and we need to contain this thing although I have my doubts if that will happen.

You did hear about Budd Lake in Clare County right?

[TrekJeff]

Sounds good...Budd lake, no I havn't heard anything about that...Budds about thirty minutes from my cabin in Isabella....VHS hit???


Wow, just read the story, that's a shame, there's good trout fishing in and around that area.

[taxid]

The following makes sense to me.

Fish Kills Serious, but not Worst Case

 

Manitowoc, Wis. (May 17, 2007) – It could get ugly. It will probably smell horrible. But the piles of dead fish that may appear on the shores of some Wisconsin lakes, victims of a newly introduced virus known as VHS, are not the most serious threat to the serenity of our shores or the quality of our fishing, according to Philip Moy, invasive species specialist at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute.

       “Die-offs from VHS might be visually dramatic and economically serious, but they won’t threaten the long-term survival of our favorite fish species,” Moy said.  “The survivors will eventually develop resistance to the virus.”

       In the long term, Moy said, greater threats are posed by invasive species like zebra mussels, round gobies, and Eurasian watermilfoil.  These organisms can fundamentally restructure the food webs that support Wisconsin’s major sport fish. The result could be small lakes that are incapable of supporting walleye, bass, or perch – and Great Lakes devoid of salmon and trout.

       “I don’t want to minimize how ugly things may get with VHS,” Moy said.  “But, in the long term, I’m more worried about other invasive species.”

       The virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is believed to have killed hundreds of sheepshead in Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Mortes last week. Officials fear it may spread throughout the state.

       Minimizing the spread of all invasive species–including VHS–is a matter of good boating and fishing practices, Moy said. Four things every boater should do when moving a boat from one water body to another:

·   INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment and remove all aquatic plants.

·   DRAIN all water from the boat, motor, bilge, live well and bait wells.

·   DISPOSE of leftover bait in a trash bin, not into the water.

·   RINSE your boat and fishing equipment with hot (at least 104 degrees F or higher) water, OR thoroughly dry your boat and equipment (leave them in the sun for at least five days) before entering a new water body.